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Who is Hector Garza?
Wrestling is a prominent sport nowadays. However, many people are unaware that wrestling dates back to ancient times. Wrestling was depicted in cave drawings in France some 15,000 years ago, and it was also described in Hindu writings such as the Vedas, Mahabharat, and Ramayan.
Its widespread appeal has produced several outstanding wrestlers from all over the world.
Hector Garza, as his ring name suggests, is one such wrestler from Mexico.
He has had a far greater impact on wrestling history.
Hector Solano Segura, better known by his ring name Hector Garza, was a Mexican professional wrestler.
Hector, an aggressive wrestler, competed professionally from 1992 to 2012.
Unfortunately, Hector died of lung cancer one year after retiring on May 26, 2013, at the age of 43.
Furthermore, during the course of his two-decade career, Hector gained millions of fans and followers worldwide, many of whom see him as a master of his craft.
Garza’s fame extends not just to his followers but also to his family.
His nephew Garza Jr., a professional wrestler, attempts to remember his uncle’s legendary wrestling maneuvers and mannerisms.
Hector Garza | Childhood and Family
Hector, a gifted wrestler, comes from a wrestling family.
Humberto Garza, a professional wrestler, gave birth to Garza.
Along with his father, Humberto Garza Jr. and his son El Sultan are all professional wrestlers.
Moreover, Garza’s uncle Mike Segura, his cousin El Ninja Jr. and his nephew Angel Garza are participating in professional wrestling.
Hector Garza | Career
The internationally-famous wrestler Garza had a fruitful career of almost two decades in Mexico.
He solely wrestled for CMLL and AAA. Besides his excellent career in Mexico, Hector worked briefly for WCW, WWF, and TNA.
Early Career
Hector made his debut in professional wrestling in 1992.
Initially, his uncle Mario Segura, Mr. Lince, and Blue Fish coached and prepared Hector.
Moreover, Hector acquired his ring name after his father’s name.
He entered the wrestling world with undying zeal and tremendous hope.
Similarly, the promising star started to wrestle for Federation Internacional de Lucha Libre (FILL) in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. FILL is an International Wrestling Federation.
At the beginning of Garza’s Career, he stood against El Sanguinario in 1993.
He portrayed a good character, which is called the “tecnico” or face character.
Further, Hector won his first professional wrestling on June 6, 1993, by defeating El Sanguinaria.
Consejo Mudial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) Career
CMLL (World Wrestling Council in Mexico City) tried to find its ground when AAA came out as its competitor.
As a process of rebuilding the image and repairing the foundation, CMLL hired Hector Garza.
He soon stood against legendary “rudos” or heel or bad guy characters, Bestia Salvaje and Satanico, in hair matches.
Soon Garza became one of the top face characters.
After spending two years in CMLL, Garza joined AAA in 1996 as a new move to further his career.
AAA /WWF Career
Hector joined AAA in 1996, which was another step up for the great wrestler.
With his AAA contract, Garza could also appear in the WWF, a US-based World Wrestling Federation.
When he wrestled in his first televised appearance in the WWF, he won against T.L. Hopper.
Then in 1997, Hector appeared on the Royal Rumble pay-per-view along with El Canek and Perro Aguayo.
Hector was part of several WWF matches, but his WWF career ended sooner.
On March 10, 1997, he appeared on the 200th episode of Monday Night Raw, his last WWF match.
Moreover, Hector worked in AAA as a part of a famous trio called La Maquina del Amor (The Love Machine) (The Love Machine).
This role-playing increased their popularity among female fans.
But the AAA/WWF collaboration ended in mid-1997, leaving many AAA wrestlers no choice but to join World Championship Wrestling (WCW) (WCW).
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Career
When Garza joined WCM in 1997, he became immensely popular for his unusual wrestling move called “corkscrew plancha.”
He got his first WCW championship match on June 30, 1997, when he challenged Steven Regal, but he lost the game in four minutes.
The same year, Hector made his WCW PPV debut at the Bash at the Beach with Juventud Guerrera and Lizmark Jr.
Moreover, Garza also joined the Latino World Order (IWO), a professional wrestling group mainly formed by Eddie Guerrero in 1998.
Latino World Order(LWO), a wrestling group created by Eddie Guerrero
Latino World Order, a wrestling group, created by Eddie Guerrero(Hector on the left and Eddie in the middle) (Hector on the left and Eddie in the middle)
Garza left WCW after his last match on October 1, 1999; he, along with Silver King, defeated Los Villanos.
Returning to AAA
The Latino World Order member, Hector, decided to go back to AAA at the end of 1999.
Soon he became part of a long-running feud involving Heavy Metal, Perro Aguayo Jr., and Heavy Metal, which would go longer.
After his return to AAA, Hector won many championships.
On December 26, 1999, Garza won the IWC World Heavyweight Championship against Pirata Morgan.
Likewise, after two months, Hector won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship against Sangre Chicana.
However, Hector also defeated other Guerra de Titanes and won the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship on May 5, 2002.
At the end of the year 2002, Garza was beaten by Latin Lover, making him shave his hair for the first time.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
The super-flexible wrestler Hector returned to the USA in 2004 to participate in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Furthermore, Hector, along with four other wrestlers, won the America X-Cup.
Sadly, after his termination from the AAA-TNA deal, Hector went back to participate in TNA Victory Road 2004.
There he won a Twenty-Man X-Division Gauntlet. Such victories, accolades, and popularity kept coming into Hector’s life no matter where he was.
His arrest and deportation did not stop him from becoming a successful wrestler in Mexico.
Returning to CMLL
The 2-generation wrestler, Garza, came back to Mexico and joined CMLL in 2005. He fully got involved in CMLL.
After his return, Hector became a part of Los Perros del Mal, a Mexican professional wrestling group.
Again in 2008, Hector teamed with El Hijo del Fantasma and La Mascara.
In the final tournament, the trio won the vacant CMLL World Trios Championship defeating Dos Caras Jr., Blue Panther, and Mistico.
Moreover, Garza left the ring during the match in March 2010 in a feud with another team member.
In defense, Garza claimed that one member of his team attacked him.
After this incident, Hector’s role as a tecnico (good guy character) started to change.
He kept winning many matches, teaming with different wrestlers than his team members.
Finally, on May 7, 2010, Super Viernes, Hector, betrayed his team members (La Mascara & Hijo del Fantasma) by attacking them.
Moreover, he let La Ola Amarillo win the CMLL Trios Championship.
This final betraying move turned him into a “rudo” (bad-guy character) (bad-guy character).
2010-2012
In 2010, the talented wrestler Garza joined the Los Invasores after betraying his team members.
Moreover, Hector and Mr. Aguila won the CMLL World Tag Team Championship on July 16, 2010, Super Viernes.
But after four-month, they lost the championship to Dragon Rojo Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero.
Similarly, Hector went even further and participated in New Japan Pro Wrestling on January 4, 2011, which did not go well.
Soon after, Garza returned to CMLL. Following his return to CMLL, Hector turned back into ‘Tecnico’ and also left Los Invasores.
The same year on August 12, Garza won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship for the first time against Ultimo Guerrero.
Furthermore, Hector left CMLL to join Perros del Mal Producciones, a Mexican professional wrestling promotion founded by Perro Aguayo.
He went to save Perro Aguayo Jr., Damian 666, Halloween, and X-Fly in his first match under the promotion.
After one day, Hector, along with his team members, attacked El Mesias and Jack Evans.
The Los Perros del Mal kicked Hector out on August 10, 2012.
Sadly, two months later, Hector’s fans and followers got terrible news.
On October 15, 2012, a press release confirmed his illness. He was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Hector Garza | Steroids Arrest
In 2005 the great wrestler Hector got arrested in Houston, Texas, USA, for carrying steroids (Primobolan, Deca-Durabolin) (Primobolan, Deca-Durabolin).
He was there to wrestle at TNA’s Final Resolution 2005.
When he got arrested, Garza said that those were prescribed drugs and admitted that he was unaware of steroids’ illegality in the United States.
Unfortunately, this incident ended Hector’s Career in the US.
Later, he was deported back to Mexico and was stopped from entering the US.
Yet, he continued his wrestling career successfully in his own country.
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Hector Garza | Death & Legacy
After battling cancer for a year, Hector passed away on May 26, 2013.
He still was the Mexican National Heavyweight Champion when he died.
His fans and followers send condolences from all around the corner.
The Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission kept it inactive for some days in the memory of Garza.
After three years of Garza’s death, on August 9, 2015, Garza was inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame at Triplemania XXIII.
Moreover, one of his nephews, Humberto Garza Solano, changed his ring name to “Garza Jr.,” who also adopted some of Hector’s moves and manners.
